Get Your Vote Back Welcome Letter

A vote is a voice. It gives us power and lets us play a part in our American Political Life. But with rare exceptions, this power is taken away from prisoners and parolees, and in a dozen states felons are permanently denied the right to vote.

Fortunately, in New Jersey, ex-felons have a right to vote once they have completed their sentences. The information here will tell you how to reclaim your vote. With more people behind bars than ever before denied the right to vote, it's essential that those who have the right exercise it!

Consider these facts:

At least 4.7 million Americans cannot vote because of felony convictions.

13 percent of African-American men are barred from voting forever because of felony convictions. In the South, 30 percent of black men cannot vote.

Florida and Texas disenfranchise more than 1,300,000 people. Alabama, California and Virginia each disfranchises between 225,000 and 311,000 people.

Don't let the government take away your political power. Remember, as we saw in the 2000 Bush-Gore election, every vote counts. And every time you vote, you help shape your nation, your state and your town. That's why we hope you will use the information here to reclaim your vote. Your voice matters.

If you do have problems registering to vote, call the ACLU-NJ at (973) 642-2084.